Republicans nominate Lincoln-Johnson ticket 150 years ago today (June 8 1864)

(Wednesday, June 8, 1864) — President Abraham Lincoln of Illinois was nominated for a second term today at the National Union Convention meeting at the Front Street Theatre in Baltimore, defeating Ulysses S. Grant (who was not a candidate) 484-22 on the first ballot.

Military Governor Andrew Johnson of Tennessee, a War Democrat, was nominated vice president on the revised first ballot, defeating former Senator Daniel Dickinson by 492-9 votes.

Lincoln dropped Vice President Hannibal Hamlin from the ticket, seeking to broaden his base of support and look ahead to Southern Reconstruction, at which Johnson had proven himself adept as war governor of occupied Tennessee.

The Lincoln-Johnson ticket would oppose the Democratic ticket of George B. McClellan-George H. Pendleton (nominated in August 1864) in the 1864 general election.